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Dominique Strauss-Kahn to sue over Gérard Depardieu sex addiction film Dominique Strauss-Kahn to sue over Gérard Depardieu sex addiction film
(35 minutes later)
The former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has instructed lawyers to sue the makers of a film in which Gérard Depardieu plays a sex addict who sexually assaults a hotel maid.The former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has instructed lawyers to sue the makers of a film in which Gérard Depardieu plays a sex addict who sexually assaults a hotel maid.
Welcome to New York by Abel Ferrara, which had a private screening on the sidelines of the Cannes film festival at the weekend and has been on pay-per-view in France, is billed as a piece of fiction and comes with a legal disclaimer.Welcome to New York by Abel Ferrara, which had a private screening on the sidelines of the Cannes film festival at the weekend and has been on pay-per-view in France, is billed as a piece of fiction and comes with a legal disclaimer.
Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, however, said the film was defamatory in that its subject matter was similar to the accusations levelled against his client, who resigned from the International Monetary Fund in 2011 after a New York hotel maid accused him of sexual assault. Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, however, said the film was defamatory in that its subject matter was similar to the accusations levelled against his client, who resigned from the International Monetary Fund in 2011 after a New York hotel maid accused him of sexual assault. Strauss-Kahn settled a civil case after criminal charges were dropped.
Strauss-Kahn settled a civil case after criminal charges were dropped. "This happened three years ago and he was cleared," his lawyer, Jean Veil, told Europe 1 radio on Monday. "He is frightened, sickened [by the film]. He has instructed his lawyers, myself, to make a complaint for defamation based on accusations of rape, on the insinuations made throughout this film."
"This happened three years ago and he was cleared," his lawyer, Jean Veil, told Europe 1 radio on Monday. Ferrara said the film was fiction and that he had the right to choose his subjects. "I'm not on trial," he said. "I'm an artist. I have freedom of speech. I'm from America, I'm from the country of the free, land of the free and home of the brave."
"He is frightened, sickened [by the film]. He has instructed his lawyers, myself, to make a complaint for defamation based on accusations of rape, on the insinuations made throughout this film."
Ferrara said the film was fiction and that he had the right to choose his subjects.
"I'm not on trial," he said. "I'm an artist. I have freedom of speech. I'm from America, I'm from the country of the free, land of the free and home of the brave."
The film begins with an extended sex-party scene before the encounter between the main character, George Devereau, and a maid. Throughout the scene, which lasts for more than 20 minutes, Depardieu appears naked and flits from one bacchanalian encounter to another.The film begins with an extended sex-party scene before the encounter between the main character, George Devereau, and a maid. Throughout the scene, which lasts for more than 20 minutes, Depardieu appears naked and flits from one bacchanalian encounter to another.
Reporters at the screening were handed a gift bag containing condoms and Viagra. Reporters at the screening were handed a gift bag containing condoms and Viagra. The trade publication Variety reviewed the film as "a sure-fire scandal-starter in France" and said Depardieu's "audacious performance is undeniably the pic's chief selling point," a view shared by most critics.
The trade publication Variety reviewed the film as "a sure-fire scandal-starter in France" and said Depardieu's "audacious performance is undeniably the pic's chief selling point," a view shared by most critics.